HOME EXHIBITION MATCH SATURDAY. THE INTERIM COACH RANDI SMART WILL CONTINUE LEADING THE TEAM. NEW DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT WITH SGT. BUTTERS. HE’S THE MOCKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S NOW FORMER THERAPY CAT. BRIANA: HE HAD BEEN WITH THE MOCKSVILLE P.D. SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT WAS RECENTLY REMOVED. HIS FACEBOOK PAGE IS GONE, TOO. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. OUR DAVONTE MCKENITH HAS ANSWERS. >> LAST WEEK WE TOLD YOU SERGEANT BUTTERS WAS GONE. THE MAYOR TOLD US ONE THING OF THE TOWN MANAGER TOLD US ANOTHER. WE USE SOMETHING WASN’T RIGHT AND FILED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO GET MORE. WE GOT MORE THANKS TO THE EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES AMONG THE TOWN BOARD. ON APRIL 6, A MOCKSVILLE COUPLE WAS HIT IN A CROSSWALK. SARGE BUTTERS POSTED ON FACEBOOK, REMINDING THE TOWN TO BE CAREFUL AS WARMER WEATHER LEADS TO MORE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST PUSHBACK AGAINST BUTTERS CAME HOURS LATER A TEXT MESSAGE FROM TOWN BOARD MEMBER AMY VAUGHAN-JONES TO TOWN MANAGER MATT SETTLEMYER SAYING THE FACEBOOK POST SHOULD COME DOWN SETTLMEYER SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT, ADDING HE BELIEVED THE TOWN WAS TRYING TO GET OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION. VAUGHAN JONES REPLIES, SAYING MAYBE THAT SHOULDN’T COME FROM A CAT. FAST FORWARD TO AUGUST 9 AND 10TH. MAYOR PRO-TEM BRENT WARD SENT EMAILS TO SETTLEMYER AND THE BOARD. ONE SAID THE BOARD WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE MOCKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE OTHER EMAIL SAYS SARGE BUTTERS FACEBOOK SHOULD BE DELETED AND THE CAT SHOULD NOT BE THE FACE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SETTLEMYER NOTIFIED THE BOARD THAT THE PAGE WAS IN FAC DELETED AFTER A POST ABOUT JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS MADE. THAT POST VIOLATED THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY. NEXT IS A TEST -- TEXT MESSAGE ASKING ABOUT A PREGNANT FEMALE OFFICER WITH THE CAT AND THE LETTERBOX. SHE WAS CONCERNED FOR THE OFFICERS HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF THE UNBORN CHILD. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. JONES INTO THE CONVERSATION SAYING THE TOWN MUST DO A BETTER JOB WITH MANAGING THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TEXT. SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHO WRITES FOR SERGEANT BUTTERS AND WHICH OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE. THE QUESTION, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? THE CAT? WE REACHED OUT FOR COMMENT NOW THAT THE TEXT MESSAGES ARE IN THE PUBLIC EYE. SHE HAS NOT YET RESPONDED AND NEITHER HAS MAYOR PRO TEM BRENT WARD. YOU CAN READ A REACTION AT WXII12.COM. BACK TO YOU.

An "organizational assessment" is underway at the Mocksville Police Department after several controversial situations in recent weeks.Town manager Matt Settlemyer said Wednesday that Developmental Associates, LLC is the team in charge of helping the police department. "This process includes interviews with staff as well as recommendations for increased efficiency, effectiveness and future development. A final report is expected in a few weeks," said Settlemyer.Settlemyer said he will share whatever is public record from the final report when it is complete.Developmental Associates, LLC declined to comment Wednesday about its interaction with the department.The assessments come after controversy over a former therapy cat within the police department. Sergeant Butters was ousted from the police department and had his social media presence removed. Although his social media pages have been reactivated, the community was outraged.WXII 12 News reported on conflicting statements, provided by Settlemyer and the mayor, about why the cat was removed.That report was followed by findings through a public records request which revealed text messages and emails from the town's board. The conversations highlighted personal thoughts about the therapy cat at the department. In the same public records request, town board member Amy Vaughan-Jones is seen having a text message conversation with Settlemyer in which she criticizes the police department."Also, I would like to ask that at our executive meeting, personnel files are brought of job performance reviews of all of the police department employees...," wrote Vaughan-Jones. "My concern again is for the strength of the leadership at the PD Dept."Vaughan-Jones continues the message with: "Also Matt if you don't mind reporting to us the number of officers who have left as well for other employment. I would also like to know how many officers are on-duty daily and with what responsibilities they have? Have had some complaints the total number of patrolling officers versus those who sit in the PD daily with other responsibilities."The message of concern continues."I am also going to voice my concern with the PD chief having an additional second job! I thought we had given Pat a sizeable raise! I personally feel as if our chief should only be working for the town because we seem to have so many issues within the department. If things were running smoothly, I might find Reagan's position with a part-time job acceptable, but he might need to offer his undivided attention to running the PD with more efficiency."Police Chief Pat Reagan has not been able to provide a comment about the pending issues, or Vaughan-Jones' statements to Settlemyer. Reagan previously referred WXII's inquiry to Settlemyer.Another text message from Vaughan-Jones reveals her recommendation for the department."...I am in favor of dissolving it (the police department) and going with police protection with the Sheriff's office. Too many complaints coming out of the department among the officers themselves. Like I said, I am concerned with the leadership within the department. When you have officers leaving, then we are not listening to the officer's concerns and to me that becomes a very large issue!"Sheriff JD Hartman said Thursday that he has not had this discussion with anyone."I've never had any contact from any member of the city government about any of that. There has never been any contact or discussion at all. I'm not involved in city government. That's their business," said Hartman.Officers who wished to remain anonymous with Mocksville police have reached out to WXII 12 News on several occasions supporting Chief Reagan. They have all agreed that Reagan is a "progressive" chief and is the person suitable to lead the department. They fear, though, speaking in public due to department policy. However, Mayor William Marklin went on the record to support Reagan."The Mocksville Police Department does an excellent job in serving and protecting our citizens and I fully support the leadership of Chief Reagan," Marklin said Thursday.Vaughan-Jones has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

MOCKSVILLE, N.C. —

An "organizational assessment" is underway at the Mocksville Police Department after several controversial situations in recent weeks.

Town manager Matt Settlemyer said Wednesday that Developmental Associates, LLC is the team in charge of helping the police department.

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"This process includes interviews with staff as well as recommendations for increased efficiency, effectiveness and future development. A final report is expected in a few weeks," said Settlemyer.

Settlemyer said he will share whatever is public record from the final report when it is complete.

Developmental Associates, LLC declined to comment Wednesday about its interaction with the department.

The assessments come after controversy over a former therapy cat within the police department. Sergeant Butters was ousted from the police department and had his social media presence removed. Although his social media pages have been reactivated, the community was outraged.

In the same public records request, town board member Amy Vaughan-Jones is seen having a text message conversation with Settlemyer in which she criticizes the police department.

"Also, I would like to ask that at our executive meeting, personnel files are brought of job performance reviews of all of the police department employees...," wrote Vaughan-Jones. "My concern again is for the strength of the leadership at the PD Dept."

Vaughan-Jones continues the message with: "Also Matt if you don't mind reporting to us the number of officers who have left as well for other employment. I would also like to know how many officers are on-duty daily and with what responsibilities they have? Have had some complaints the total number of patrolling officers versus those who sit in the PD daily with other responsibilities."

The message of concern continues.

"I am also going to voice my concern with the PD chief having an additional second job! I thought we had given Pat a sizeable raise! I personally feel as if our chief should only be working for the town because we seem to have so many issues within the department. If things were running smoothly, I might find Reagan's position with a part-time job acceptable, but he might need to offer his undivided attention to running the PD with more efficiency."

Police Chief Pat Reagan has not been able to provide a comment about the pending issues, or Vaughan-Jones' statements to Settlemyer. Reagan previously referred WXII's inquiry to Settlemyer.

Another text message from Vaughan-Jones reveals her recommendation for the department.

"...I am in favor of dissolving it (the police department) and going with police protection with the Sheriff's office. Too many complaints coming out of the department among the officers themselves. Like I said, I am concerned with the leadership within the department. When you have officers leaving, then we are not listening to the officer's concerns and to me that becomes a very large issue!"

Sheriff JD Hartman said Thursday that he has not had this discussion with anyone.

"I've never had any contact from any member of the city government about any of that. There has never been any contact or discussion at all. I'm not involved in city government. That's their business," said Hartman.

Officers who wished to remain anonymous with Mocksville police have reached out to WXII 12 News on several occasions supporting Chief Reagan. They have all agreed that Reagan is a "progressive" chief and is the person suitable to lead the department. They fear, though, speaking in public due to department policy.

However, Mayor William Marklin went on the record to support Reagan.

"The Mocksville Police Department does an excellent job in serving and protecting our citizens and I fully support the leadership of Chief Reagan," Marklin said Thursday.